If your vehicle is having a problem while you're driving, try to get to the right-hand shoulder of the road as soon as possible, especially if youre on a highway. Im so grateful because I had plans with family and I was already running late. Immediately call a towing service. If it has been parked or left standing for more than four hours, the California Highway Patrol has the authority to remove it. Avoid the temptation to slam on the brakes and instead use your momentum to safely edge to the side of the road. Taking care of your vehicle in an emergency can help reduce stress. Oklahoma Road Condtions Map/Information website. No. Remember to signal and try to remain on level ground. If you choose to exit the vehicle, do so safely and well away from oncoming traffic and your vehicle. If a car has major mechanical issues, it is most likely towing when a mechanic cannot fix it on the roadside. Call or use an app to get a tow truck, mechanic or roadside assistance with your insurance company or other provider to help. When you car breaks down, you want to know who to call for a tow. National advertising powered by Mediative.com. 1 Stay calm and move out of traffic. What To Do If You Break Down On The Highway You can rest easy knowing that a tow will safely transport your vehicle to a mechanic so that it can be repaired. Thanks so much. Accessibility Copyright 2023. Having roadside assistance saves you money on your car repair. If you know that youre going to need roadside assistance, use your mobile phone to call your auto club or the highway patrol. In almost any state, you may dial 911 for emergencies, but due to the high volume of calls that 911 operators receive, in some cases it might be better to use the phone numbers listed below, particularly to report highway-safety related "non-emergencies." Have the following information ready when you call AAA/CAA or other service providers. Avoid checking for damage or making repairs if you're on a busy roadway or in the line of traffic. MFD: Brush fire that broke out in Olowalu 90% contained - Hawaii News Now If you cant remove the vehicle from the travel lane and cant exit, contact emergency services, turn on your hazard lights and keep your seatbelt on. Keyless ignition may drain batteries faster, for example, and tire-inflation kits, in lieu of spares, dont always work. If a friend or colleague offers to assist you, be cautious about accepting their offer. Dummies has always stood for taking on complex concepts and making them easy to understand. Answer (1 of 11): It entirely depends on what's wrong with it. If you have been involved in an accident, the battery in your vehicle may have been damaged. If no call box is nearby, youre probably better off just hanging the white cloth or piece of paper out the window and waiting for the highway patrol.
\r\n\r\n \tTo avoid being hit by a passing vehicle, never work on your vehicle from the side thats exposed to traffic. If you can, drive farther off the road to a safe, well-traveled place, and try to reach into the trouble area from the front or the side thats away from traffic.
\r\nIf its daylight, put on your emergency blinkers to alert oncoming traffic to the fact that your vehicle isnt moving. This is not a good idea at night because motorists coming up behind you may think that your vehicle is still rolling along the highway and run right into the rear end of your car.
\r\nIf its nighttime and youre not stuck in traffic, quickly place warning lights or reflective markers about six feet behind the vehicle to alert traffic, and then get back in the car. If you dont have lights or markers, either turn on the interior lights manually or leave the car door thats away from traffic open so that the interior lights stay on.
\r\nIf you get a flat tire, do not attempt to change it unless you can get to the side of the road and the tire is on the side of the vehicle thats safely away from traffic.
\r\nBecause driving on a flat tire for any longer than it takes to park safely can destroy the tire, you need to replace it close to where it went flat. Depending on how much room you have, there are plenty of items you may want to put in your kit. Most roadside assistance programs will tow your car to a nearby service station or repair shop. If you dont have one in mind, ask the operator if there is a nearby AAA Approved Auto Repair facility. EXPANDED STATE-BY-STATE LISTINGS (Updated 04/05/2019), Arkansas: 911 or Cellphone-only: *55 (star 55), Colorado: 911 or Cellphone-only: *CSP (star 277) or *DUI (star 384) to report DUIs, Florida: 911 or 800-459-6861 or Cellphone-only: *FHP (star 347), Georgia: 911 or Cellphone-only: *GSP (star 477), Idaho: 911 or 800-233-1212 or Cellphone-only: *ISP (star 477), Illinois: 911 or Cellphone-only: *999 (star 999), Iowa: 911 or 800-555-HELP (800-555-4357), Kansas: 911 (Statewide) or Cellphone-only: *HP (star 47 for Salina, KS; Cost of living - latest updates: Huge drop in UK house - Sky News If a stranger does stop to offer help, ask the person to call for emergency road service. If you have a cloth, preferably with a bright color, you can wave it around. With food inflation at 18.4%, supermarket bosses denied claims of profiteering in . Do not brake suddenly. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) recommends pulling your emergency brake, sometimes called the parking brake. If the engine dies right on the highway and you cant get off the road, dont get out of the car! If you are in an accident, you may want to call the police. A parking ticket can be issued if you are still in the car. Oklahoma DPS's How you fare when your vehicle fails is often a matter of how you respond. Keep reading for a step by step guide on what to do if your car breaks down on the highway. In remote areas fewer tow trucks are available, so make sure you have emergency supplies on hand, such as blankets, chemical heat packs, etc. Note your location for police or other responders. by Rachelle | Oct 29, 2022 | Law Enforcement. This company provides excellent service. Many providers will offer additional services in the event of a gas emergency, such as fuel delivery. Position the third device 120-360 feet behind the vehicles right side. \"https://sb\" : \"http://b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();\r\n","enabled":true},{"pages":["all"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n
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